OTTAWA ONLINE PSY-40854 History and Systems of Psychology Course Description Introduces nature and purpose of philosophical reflection. Emphasis on questions Reviews historical antecedents of contemporary psychology, critical analysis of selected psychological theories and discussion of application of these theories in contemporary psychology. This is a fully online, eight-week course. We will not meet face-to-face at any time. Course Prerequisites PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Explain the major pre-scientific approaches to the study of psychological issues. Demonstrate an understanding of major questions that have driven psychological thought throughout its history. Explain the significance of the introduction of scientific method to the study of psychology. Describe the contributions of many of the prominent individuals in the history of psychology. Compare and contrast the major schools of thought in psychology during the scientific era. Analyze the development of the profession of psychology in the 20th and 21st centuries. Evaluate the dual aspects of psychology as both a hard science and a healing art. Required Text Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2013). A history of modern psychology. Wadsworth Pub Co. ISBN: 9781111344979 Course Assignment Descriptions and Schedule At-A-Glance You will have several opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the principles taught in this course. The primary means of evaluating your work will be through practical application of the material. In the event that you have difficulty completing any of the assignments for this course, please contact your instructor immediately. Please refer to the Weekly Materials section of the cyberclassroom for 1 of 8
complete details regarding the activities and assignments for this course. The following is merely a summary. Discussion contributions (160 points) (three postings per week @ 20 points per week) Initial Substantive Posts: Submit an initial response to each of the prompts provided each week by your instructor. Your initial post should be substantive (approximately ½ of a page in length) and must be posted by midnight, Central Time by Wednesday of each week. In your substantive post you are encouraged to use references (you may use your textbook); show evidence of critical thinking as it applies to the concepts or prompt and/or use examples of the application of the concepts to work and life. Proper punctuation, grammar and correct spelling are expected. Please use the spell-check function. Required Replies: You must reply to at least two different peers per prompt. Your replies should build on the concept discussed, offer a question to consider, or add a differing perspective, etc. Rather than responding with, "Good post," explain why the post is "good" (why it is important, useful, insightful, etc.). Or, if you disagree, respectfully share your alternative perspective. Just saying "I agree" or "Good idea" is not sufficient for the posts you would like graded. Posting Guidelines: Overall, postings must be submitted on at least two separate days of the week. It is strongly recommended you visit the discussion forum throughout the week to read and respond to your peers postings. You are encouraged to post more than the required number of replies. (Please review the Policies section of Blackboard for further details.) Week 1 Readings Chapter 1: The Study of the History of Psychology Chapter 2: Philosophical Influences on Psychology All online content associated with Week 1 Assignment(s) Essay Responses Briefly (250 words or less per question) answer each of the following essay questions. Be sure to follow proper formatting and cite at least one scholarly source to support each answer. Imagine you are a philosopher prior to the scientific era in the study of psychology (pre-1879). Using your philosophical frame of reference, explain how a dog can learn to obey commands from humans. You may not make reference to any behavioral research that took place after 1879. Given that you have some knowledge of behavioral research after 1879, criticize the answer you provided in question 1. Based on all the information included in this lesson, describe the pros and cons of utilizing scientific methods in psychology. Due: Midnight, CT 2 of 8
Points Possible: 30 Week 2 Readings Chapter 3: Physiological Influences on Psychology Chapter 4: The New Psychology All online content associated with Week 2 Assignment(s) Essay: New Psychology Imagine that you are an American psychology student in the late 19th century. You have been educated in the tradition that psychology is a subfield of philosophy. Even so, you have gone to Germany to study with Wilhelm Wundt and find out what this "New Psychology" is all about. In at least 750 words, write an essay aimed at those who would have been studying psychology in the more traditional philosophical approach during this time. Explain: How "New Psychology" is different from the philosophical approach. Wundt's opinions as to how psychology should be studied. How successful you think this method is likely to be in the future. Cite at least two scholarly sources (in total) to support your position. Points Possible: 30 Week 3 Readings Chapter 5: Structuralism Chapter 6: Functionalism: Antecedent Influences Chapter 7: Functionalism: Development and Founding All online content associated with Week 3 Assignment(s) Biography: Christine Ladd-Franklin In at least 750 words, write an essay about the life of Christine Ladd- Franklin. Your essay should include: A brief summary of her life. Her most important scientific contributions to the psychology of her era. Your opinion as to the greatest obstacles she faced. Her thoughts about the role of women in psychology Points Possible: 30 Week 4 Readings Chapter 9: Behaviorism: Antecedent Influences Chapter 10: Behaviorism: The Beginnings All online content associated with Week 4 3 of 8
Assignment(s) Response: Conditioned Reflexes In at least 750 words, write a response to of the Conditioned Reflexes article by Ivan Pavlov in your textbook. Your response should include: General evaluative comments on what he has said. How much is this still appears to be relevant today. Other factors relevant to his work that you feel he may have overlooked. How he may have written the article differently if he were writing today. Points Possible: 30 Week 5 Readings Chapter 11: Behaviorism: After The Founding All online content associated with Week 5 Assignment(s) Response: The History of a Crackpot Idea In at least 750 words, write a response to Pigeons in a Pelican by B.F. Skinner. Your response should include: General evaluative comments on the project he describes. The historical significance (if any) of this project to the development of Behaviorism. Your opinion as to why the project was not carried out by the military. The ethical implications of using pigeons in this way. Points Possible: 30 Week 6 Readings Chapter 8: Applied Psychology: The Legacy of Functionalism Chapter 12: Gestalt Psychology All online content associated with Week 6 Assignment(s) Research: John Watson After John Watson was forced out of academic psychology because of his affair, he went on to become very successful in many areas of business. Research some of the psychological principles he used in his work, and in at least 1000 words, evaluate his work in light of what you know about Industrial/Organizational psychology. Specifically, you should address: 4 of 8
Could he be considered one of the first I/O psychologists? Was his work helpful in advancing the progress of psychology as a science, even though he wasn't actively conducting research? Any advice you might have had for him as he was embarking on his new career? Points Possible: 40 Week 7 Readings Chapter 13: Psychoanalysis: The Beginnings Chapter 14: Psychoanalysis: After The Founding All online content associated with Week 7 Assignment(s) Speculative Essay: Psychoanalysis In Week 3, we saw how dramatically scientific psychology changed as it migrated from Germany to the United States. In at least 1000 words, speculate on how psychoanalysis might have changed if Freud had emigrated to the United States in 1920 instead of staying in Austria until 1938. Your response should include how psychoanalysis might have been influenced by: The work of Charles Darwin The rise of behaviorism The American emphasis on pragmatism Points Possible: 40 Week 8 Readings Chapter 15: Contemporary Developments in Psychology Supplemental Reading: Clinical Psychology Comes of Age All online content associated with Week 8 on Saturday Assignment(s) Essay: What is the History of Psychology? In at least 1000 words, provide your personal reaction to this video on the history of psychology (http://youtu.be/vfygk-lnnqq) Respond to this video in light of all your work in this course. Your response should include: Any major omissions you noticed in the video. Keep in mind this is based on your personal opinion. If the video left out something you regard as fairly unimportant, don't mention it. Any things you would have included (or stated differently) if you had 5 of 8
been producing the video. Any speculation as to what the next chapter (chapters?) of psychology might look like. Due: Saturday at Midnight, CT Points Possible: 40 * All online weeks run from Monday to Sunday, except the last week, which ends on Saturday. ** All assignments are due at midnight Central Time. (All submissions to the Blackboard system are date/time stamped in Central Time). Assignments At-A-Glance Assignment/Activity Qty. Points Total Points 20 160 Weeks 1-8: Discussion* - per week Week 1: Essay Responses 1 30 30 Week 2: Essay: New Psychology 1 30 30 Week 3: Biography: Christine Ladd-Franklin 1 30 30 Week 4: Response: Conditioned Reflexes 1 30 30 Week 5: Response: The History of a Crackpot Idea 1 30 30 Week 6: Research: John Watson 1 40 40 Week 7: Speculative Essay: Psychoanalysis 1 40 40 Week 8: Essay: What is the History of Psychology? 1 40 40 TOTAL POINTS 430 *Please refer to the Policies menu for more information about requirements for Discussions. Grading Scale Grade Percentage Points A 90 to 100% 387-430 B 80 to 89% 344-386 C 70 to 79% 301-343 D 60 to 69% 258-300 F < 60% < 257 To access your scores, click on Grades in the Student Tools area in Blackboard. Important Policies All course-specific policies for this course are spelled out here in this syllabus. However, additional university policies are located in the Policies section of Blackboard. You are responsible for reading and understanding all of these policies. All of them are important. Failure to understand or abide by them could have negative consequences for your experience in this course. Editorial Format for Written Papers All written assignments are to follow the APA writing style guidelines for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. This online course includes information regarding the APA style under Writing and Research Resources in the Resource Room on the course menu in Blackboard. 6 of 8
Ottawa Online Late Policy With instructor approval, assignments may be accepted for up to one week after the due date, but a minimum automatic deduction of 10% of the points will be assessed. The instructor also has the option of increasing this deduction percentage up to a maximum of 20%. Extenuating circumstances may be determined on rare occasions and an extension allowed without a deduction, but only at the sole discretion of the instructor. Discussion board postings will not be accepted for credit when posted after the close of the discussion week. There are no exceptions to this rule; however, solely at the discretion of the instructor, the student may be allowed to submit an alternative assignment to make up for the points under extenuating circumstances. If granted, this should be an exception to the rule. No assignments will be accepted after the last day of the course (end of term) unless arrangements have been made and approved by the instructor at least one week in advance. Saving Work It is recommended that you save all of your work from this course on your own computer or flash drive. The capstone course you take at the end of your program may require you to have access to this work for culminating assignments and/or reflections. Academic Integrity Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated at any level on any assignment. The reality of cyberspace has made academic dishonesty even more tempting for some, but be advised that technology can and will be used to help uncover those engaging in deception. If you ever have a question about the legitimacy of a source or a procedure you are considering using, ask your instructor. As the University Academic Council approved on May 29, 2003, The penalty for plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will be failure in the course in which the academic dishonesty occurred. Students who commit academic dishonesty can be dismissed from the university by the provost/director. Please refer to Academic Honesty in the Policies section of the online course menu for important information about Ottawa University s policies regarding plagiarism and cheating, including examples and explanations of these issues. Student Handbook Please refer to your student handbook for all university regulations. The Resource Room on the course menu in Blackboard contains information about where to find the student handbook online for your campus. Please see Policies in Blackboard for additional university policies. Blackboard Technical Support The Resource Room in Blackboard contains links to student tutorials for learning to use Blackboard as well as information about whom to contact for technical support. Ottawa University offers technical support from 8 a.m. to midnight Central Time for all students, staff, and faculty at no cost. See www.ottawa.edu/ouhelp for contact information. 7 of 8
Ottawa University s Mission The mission of Ottawa University is to provide the highest quality liberal arts and professional education in a caring, Christ-centered community of grace which integrates faith, learning and life. The University serves students of traditional age, adult learners and organizations through undergraduate and graduate programs. 8 of 8